Comments: This will be the second time Cole is a first-round pick, having gone to the Yankees No. 28 overall in 2008 out of high school before heading to UCLA instead. Three years in college have done nothing but improve Cole's stock, as he entered the year as the consensus top pitcher in the class, and not much has altered that evaluation, though some rough outings, results-wise, have caused some pause. Cole looks and throws like a future ace, with three plus power pitches. His fastball is 92-99 mph and sits comfortably at 95-96 deep into starts. His hard slider comes in at 88-90 mph, and even his changeup is 88-90 mph. In some ways, that's been the problem -- no variation of velocity, allowing good hitters to time him. During a stretch when he was getting hit, despite his stuff looking just fine, he was opening his front side so his release point was right down the middle, meaning his stuff was catching too much of the plate. It was coming in flat, with a lack of deception. His control is fine -- he doesn't hurt himself with walks -- but his command within the zone is what really hurt him during that stretch. That won't keep the top couple of teams from putting him at or near the top of their boards, but it undoubtedly will lead to deeper conversations about the first overall pick.Enhanced Scouting Report

2

Hultzen, Danny

Virginia

LHP

L/L

6'02"

200

1989-11-28

JR

Comments: College pitchers who perform, particularly in a strong conference, will always move up boards as the Draft approaches and do well on Draft day. Not only has Hultzen been as consistent, if not moreso, than any other pitcher in this class, his stuff has been better than anticipated, moving him into an elite category. His fastball is now a plus pitch, up to 95 mph, with his increased velocity and good sink. He's got a plus changeup, thrown around 82-83 mph, thrown with deception and with plenty of sink. His slider isn't as sharp, but is should be at least average down the line. He's got above-average to plus control and advanced command, throwing in and out at will. A lefty with outstanding pitchability and plus stuff, not to mention plus poise and instincts, is rare indeed and is a reason why Hultzen is being discussed by several teams picking at the very, very top of the Draft.Enhanced Scouting Report

3

Bauer, Trevor

UCLA

RHP

R/R

6'01"

175

1991-01-17

JR

Comments: While ace Gerrit Cole has, somewhat understandably, gotten most of the buzz at UCLA, the guy pitching the next day has been just as effective, if not moreso. Bauer uses a vast assortment of weapons to get hitters out. He can get his fastball up to 97 mph, sitting comfortably in the 93-94 mph range. He can overthrow it early, losing some command, but he tends to adjust and commands it very well later in games. His curve is a plus pitch, a top-to-bottom breaking ball that generates a lot of swings and misses. He also throws a slider, changeup and splitter and will use them all as necessary. Bauer gets, and welcomes, Tim Lincecum comparisons, both because of his size and his pitching style. Critics think it's not a fair comp and that Bauer succeeds by getting college hitters to chase pitches out of the zone, something that won't fly at the next level. There's also been some concern about heavy pitch counts, but if the Lincecum parallel holds true, it won't be a problem. His performance this spring has likely catapulted him into the top third of the first round.Enhanced Scouting Report

4

Bundy, Dylan

Owasso HS (OK)

RHP

S/R

6'01"

200

1992-11-15

HS

Comments: Bundy entered the spring considered one of the top high school arms in the Draft class, if not the best. And nothing has happened to change that evaluation. If anything, his performance at his Oklahoma high school has improved his standing. The right-hander has been dominant, featuring three plus to above-average pitches. His fastball is among the best in the Draft, touching 98 mph and sitting at 95 mph. It's got above-average movement to boot. He complements it with two good breaking pitches. He'll throw his curve 75-79 mph and it should be at least an above-average pitch with tight rotation and some bite to it. He's got an 83-85 mph slider which isn't quite as good as the curve now, but has the chance to be in the future. He has a changeup, though it's behind the other pitches. But even that one has the chance to be Major League average. He does it all with a strong, athletic frame and very good delivery, which should allow him to develop his already good control into excellent overall command of all his pitches. His future potential as a frontline starter had some teams very high up giving him serious consideration.Enhanced Scouting Report

5

Starling, Bubba

Gardner Edgerton HS (KS)

OF

R/R

6'04"

180

1992-08-03

HS

Comments: True five-tool players don't come along all too often, so when one performs well, he's bound to garner a lot of attention. Starling, a Kansas high school product, has the chance to be a real impact player at a premium position. An outstanding defender in center field, he's got more than enough range and arm to stay there long term.He's a plus runner, shaking off an early quad injury this spring to show his legs work just fine. He's got a ton of power potential and should hit for average as well. With his athletic ability and tools, he's drawn comparisons to a center fielder like Drew Stubbs, but Starling has better plate discipline and fewer holes in his swing. His performance upon returning from that injury should help him go off the board in the very early stages of the first round.Enhanced Scouting Report

6

Rendon, Anthony

Rice

3B

R/R

6'00"

190

1990-06-06

JR

Comments: The only thing keeping Rendon from being a sure-fire top-of-the-Draft talent has been his health. When he's 100 percent, there's no question he deserves to be at, or very near, the top of every Draft board. He's got four plus tools, with the only thing below average being his speed -- and even there, he can run better than people give him credit for. He's a plus hitter who should hit .300 at the next level and he's got plus power. There's been a little concern with his power numbers going down as a result of the new college bats, but most don't see it as a true concern. He's got Gold Glove capability at third, with a plus arm and outstanding hands. The main hiccups have been with a pair of serious ankle injuries that have kept Rendon off the field the past two summers and a shoulder injury this spring that's limited him to being a designated hitter. If questions about his shoulder can be answered, though, he's still a safe bet to be gone within the first few picks.Enhanced Scouting Report

7

Bradley, Archie

Broken Arrow Sr HS (OK)

RHP

R/R

6'04"

225

1992-08-10

HS

Comments: If big, projectable high school right-handers are your thing, then Bradley may be the guy for you. He seemed to shake off a rough start to the season by returning to close to the summer form that put him near the top of many lists. Bradley looks the part, strong and tall with a lot of arm strength. When he's right, he can touch 96 mph with his fastball, and he was throwing 93-96 mph after his initial struggles. He's got a power curve that will be at least an above-average pitch, and his changeup will be fine, giving him the chance to have three above-average pitches. He doesn't just rear back and throw it, and he should have future plus control and command. A three-sport athlete, it's possible his slow start was due to not being able to focus solely on pitching. While he may not have been as consistently good this spring as he was last summer, a strong finish should move him back up boards, and he could be better than the other high school arms in this class a few years down the line.Enhanced Scouting Report

8

Lindor, Francisco

Montverde Academy (FL)

SS

S/R

5'11"

175

1993-11-14

HS

Comments: Lindor, a high school shortstop in Florida, has the chance to be an impact player on both sides of the ball at a premium position. He'll definitely be able to stay at shortstop with plus defense, showing outstanding range and a strong arm. At the plate, he's gotten stronger and he could grow into enough power to hit 15 or so homers annually, enough to keep pitchers honest, along with hitting .290-.300 every year. While he's a solid average runner, he could be a potential leadoff hitter in the future, thanks to his strike-zone knowledge and willingness to take a walk to go along with his ability to swing the bat from both sides of the plate. Lindor is a high-energy player with good makeup, one who is almost certainly the top high school position player, according to talent, in this Draft class.Enhanced Scouting Report

9

Baez, Javier

Arlington Country Day School (FL)

SS

R/R

6'00"

180

1992-12-01

HS

Comments: While the college bat scene is relatively thin, there are some very intriguing high school position players available. Baez is certainly one of them, and his name seemed to be moving up boards as the Draft approached. Fellow Floridian Francisco Lindor will likely go off the board first, but Baez may not be that far behind. That's largely because of his bat. He gets his money's worth at the plate, and the ball jumps off his bat thanks to excellent bat speed. He doesn't have the best plate discipline, but he should be an above-average hitter in the future. He's got good power, especially to the pull side. He's an average runner who won't be a basestealer, but he's OK when under way. Defensively, he likely won't be able to remain at shortstop, with some thinking he'll make a good third baseman at the next level. He's got the arm and good hands for it, and the lack of range at short won't be an issue. It also looks like he'll have the bat for the corner spot, and that kind of potential production will likely allow him to be selected as early as the first half of the first round.Enhanced Scouting Report

10

Spangenberg, Cory

Indian River State

2B

L/R

6'00"

185

1991-03-16

J2

Comments: While Spangenberg would have a hard time living up to the top prospect from junior college in last year's class (see Harper, Bryce), he's got the chance to be a pretty special hitter in his own right. Using wood in his games, he's shown the ability to flat-out hit. While he'll hit for a high average at the next level, it's not clear how much power he will ultimately develop. Whether that comes could help determine if he'll be an everyday standout or more of a role-type player. He is a plus runner, but his feet don't work too well in the infield, where he's played third and second. His fringe-average arm would likely be OK at third, but his offense would profile better at second. In the end, he might end up in left field and, again, the power would come into question for a corner outfield spot. Considering the college class is light on bats, someone is likely to take Spangenberg fairly early and figure out where he profiles defensively once he's in the fold.Enhanced Scouting Report

11

Springer, George

Connecticut

OF

R/R

6'03"

205

1989-09-19

JR

Comments: Five-tool players don't come around too often, and they're usually not from the college ranks. Springer, the UConn center fielder, is an exception to that rule. Springer can do a little bit of everything on the baseball field, and after a slow start to his junior season, was using all of those tools to put up very good numbers. There are some holes to his swing as he doesn't get cheated at the plate and, thus, there's some swing and miss to his game. Still, he has the ability to hit the ball hard to all fields. With a very quick bat, he's got unbelievable raw power and it could be a plus tool if he can make more consistent contact. He's got above-average speed and is very smart on the basepaths, giving him the potential to be a basestealing threat. Defensively, the speed plays well, with above-average range and the instincts to play anywhere in the outfield, if needed. His arm is already above-average and could be plus one day. All those tools, with the ability to play a premium position in center; a team will undoubtedly see past the swing issues and take him in the early going of the first round.Enhanced Scouting Report

12

Jungmann, Taylor

Texas

RHP

R/R

6'06"

220

1989-12-18

JR

Comments: While there are a couple of college arms that have gotten a bit more buzz as being top-of-the-draft types, there may not be another pitcher in the country who's been more consistently effective than the Texas Longhorns ace. The big right-hander with a Mike Pelfrey-type frame has three plus pitches and shows the ability to maintain his stuff deep into every start. His fastball has been around 91-97 mph, even touching 98 mph, and sits comfortably in the 93-95 mph. His fastball has plus movement as well. His curve, with a hard, tight 11-to-5 break, is also a plus pitch, as is his changeup. While his command is average -- he occasionally gets too much of the middle of the plate -- he's got outstanding control, throwing strikes and not hurting himself with walks. He'll have to learn to pitch off the plate more, but that shouldn't be an issue. Jungmann did have elbow surgery in high school that might concern some teams, but that shouldn't be enough of a red flag to keep him from going off the board in the top half of the first round.Enhanced Scouting Report

13

Nimmo, Brandon

Cheyenne East HS (WY)

OF

L/R

6'03"

1993-03-27

HS

Comments: A high school player whose Wyoming high school has no baseball team, Nimmo put himself on the map over the summer, winning MVP honors at the Under Armour All-America Game at Wrigley Field. He's got a smooth, left-handed swing that allows him to consistently make hard contact. There should be plenty of power in his bat in the future as well. A good athlete who has played football and run track in the past, he's got decent speed when healthy -- he dealt with some knee tendinitis early this spring that was not a long-term concern. Nimmo has a solid throwing arm and has shown the ability to play all three outfield positions, though a corner is the most likely in the future. The most difficult thing for Nimmo has been getting seen this spring, but scouts likely have gotten enough of a feel for this outfielder, who has drawn comparisons to Paul O'Neill, to be drafted and signed away from his commitment to the University of Arkansas.Enhanced Scouting Report

14

Fernandez, Jose

Braulio Alonso HS (FL)

RHP

R/R

6'03"

215

1992-07-31

HS

Comments: A very strong fastball-slider combination to go along with an outstanding feel for pitching and plus mound presence has Fernandez as another of the hard-throwing high schoolers hoping to hear his name called in the first round. Fernandez has been up to as high as 97-98 mph this spring and can sit comfortably in the 93-95 range. He's picked up some velocity as the spring has progressed. His slider has the chance to be an out pitch, one with late movement that is nasty at times. He's got some feel for a changeup, but it needs work and is behind the other two offerings. He's around the strike zone more often than not, with advanced control for his age. He'll have to stay on top of his conditioning, but the combination of a live arm and pitchability is a rare commodity indeed.Enhanced Scouting Report

15

Bradley, Jed

Georgia Tech

LHP

L/L

6'04"

224

1990-06-12

JR

Comments: Bradley isn't the top college lefty on Draft boards this year -- that honor belongs to Virginia's Danny Hultzen -- but it's looking like he's the clear No. 2. Georgia Tech's Saturday starter doesn't have any plus pitches -- no one offering that wows scouts -- but he does have a very solid four-pitch mix at his disposal. Bradley will throw his fastball 92-93 mph. He complements the fastball with a slider, curve and changeup. He can throw all four for strikes and mixes his pitches very well, with all of them at least Major League average. Big and durable in an Andy Pettitte sort of way, he profiles as a future workhorse who can throw a lot of innings and get to the big leagues fairly quickly. That package has many teams at the top of the Draft taking a long look at him.Enhanced Scouting Report

16

Reed, Chris

Stanford

LHP

L/L

6'04"

1990-05-20

JR

Comments: Reed might be the best arm few knew about heading into this year. The Stanford lefty hadn't pitched that much prior to this season and was serving as the school's closer. He's got the pure stuff for the role, with a fastball that he can get up to 96 mph, sitting typically anywhere from 91 to 95 mph, with good arm-side run. He complements the plus fastball (mainly a four-seamer) with an outstanding slider, giving him enough right there to excel in short relief. But while his command is average at best, he does have the stuff -- his changeup could be a plus pitch in the future as well -- along with a strong, durable frame. He's still a bit of an unknown quality, but the stuff is there, and that kind of power from the left side doesn't often exist. At worst, the team taking him has a lefty setup man who could move quickly. But there might be more there.Enhanced Scouting Report

17

Cron, C.J.

Utah

1B

R/R

6'04"

235

1990-01-05

JR

Comments: There's no question the University of Utah slugger understands the game, with a father managing in the Detroit Tigers system, a cousin in Chad Moeller, the former big league catcher, and even a younger brother who's a high school prospect committed to TCU. There's also no question Cron can flat-out hit the baseball. He should hit for average and power, with the ability to hit with authority to all fields. He doesn't have plus bat speed, but with terrific plate discipline and a natural feel for hitting, he's going to be a productive offensive player. He's caught and played first base at Utah, and nearly everyone thinks he'll be playing that infield corner as a professional. He's not one who has to catch to have value. His bat will be just fine at first and should be more than enough to get him off the board fairly early.Enhanced Scouting Report

18

Gray, Sonny

Vanderbilt

RHP

R/R

5'11"

200

1989-11-07

JR

Comments: Gray was a pretty good prospect coming out of high school. Now, after three years at Vanderbilt, he's emerged as one of the better pitching prospects in the game. He's not the biggest guy in the world, though most teams will look past the standard "undersized righty" bias because of his very good raw stuff. Gray will throw his fastball up to 94 mph with some pretty good run and sink to it. His breaking ball -- a slider that looks kind of like a hard, power curve -- gets swings and misses and can be a strikeout pitch in the future. His changeup is a touch behind, but still has good fade and is a very good third option. His biggest problem has been with his command because of some mechanical/delivery issues and that could hurt his stock a little, but not too much. He's got the stuff to pitch at or near the top of a rotation, and if he can show better control/command, he's still someone who should warrant consideration in the top half of the first round.Enhanced Scouting Report

19

Barnes, Matt

Connecticut

RHP

R/R

6'04"

1990-06-17

JR

Comments: In another Draft class, Barnes -- with his long, lanky frame and potential for a very good three-pitch mix -- would put him close to the top of Draft boards. The depth in outstanding pitching in this class knocks Barnes down a touch, but he's still in line to get taken in the top half of the first round. Barnes can crank his fastball up to 96 mph and will comfortably sit in the 91-93 mph range. He currently throws two breaking pitches. His curve has the chance to be a plus pitch if he focuses on it, with good rotation. His slider is a below-average pitch, and it might be best if he used just the curve at the next level. His changeup has the chance to be a good option, especially against lefties, but he doesn't use it that much now. He should have excellent command in the future and his frame might allow him to add some bulk along the way. He looks and acts like a frontline starter, and that's exactly what he might be down the lineEnhanced Scouting Report

20

Anderson, Tyler

Oregon

LHP

L/L

6'04"

215

1989-12-30

JR

Comments: Anderson fits the mold of the quintessential pitchability college lefty, an advanced arm who knows what he's doing on the mound and should, as a result, be able to get to the big leagues rather quickly. The Oregon product throws an average fastball, 89-92 mph, just enough to keep hitters honest. He commands it extremely well to get plenty of outs with it. It has some two-seam tail to the arm side and he'll throw a cutter as well. His changeup is probably his best pitch, a well above-average offering that has outstanding action. He has two breaking balls, a show-me curve that he'll use to get ahead of hitters early in the count and a good slider that goes down and in to right-handed hitters. A not quite as physical Andy Pettitte type, Anderson has some deception to his delivery that allows his stuff to play up. He may not have the highest ceiling in the Draft, but as a guy who won't take long to hit a big league rotation, he won't have to wait too long to hear his name called.Enhanced Scouting Report

21

Beede, Tyler

Lawrence Academy (MA)

RHP

R/R

6'04"

1993-05-23

HS

Comments: There might not be a high school pitcher with better mechanics than this Massachusetts product. The right-hander has a clean and effortless delivery, and the ball comes out of his hand really well. Beede throws his fastball 89-93 mph, sitting comfortably at 91-92 mph, with good late life. He's got a nasty hard breaking ball, which is kind of between a curve and a slider, with the shorter break of a slider, but with the depth that looks more like a curve. He's also got good feel for a changeup, and he's got above-average command of all three pitches. He pitches now like an advanced college arm, something it might be difficult to sign him away from doing at Vanderbilt next year.Enhanced Scouting Report

22

Wong, Kolten

Hawaii

2B

L/R

5'09"

190

1990-10-10

JR

Comments: There aren't that many pure college bats in this year's Draft class, but Wong has one of them. He gets overlooked because of his size, his position and the fact he plays in Hawaii. But, drawing comparisons to Carlos Baerga, Wong can really hit. He's got a professional approach at the plate, with a little power, and is the kind of hitter who should not take a long time to get to the big leagues. He's an above-average runner, and while he may not be a Gold Glover, he's a solid defender at second base. There tends to be a knock against guys who enter the Draft already at second, but Wong is a much better all-around player than perhaps he gets credit for. Even if he's underappreciated, he's still going to come off the board at some point in the first round.Enhanced Scouting Report

23

Meyer, Alex

Kentucky

RHP

R/R

6'09"

220

1990-01-03

JR

Comments: When Meyer was a high school prospect in Indiana three years ago, he was very much a raw thrower, a project with a long way to go. For the first two years at the University of Kentucky, he didn't really seem to develop much. And while he's still not a finished product, he has come a long way in his junior season, just in time for the Draft. The tall and lanky right-hander, who still has room for added weight and strength, has an outstanding combination of two plus pitches, with his fastball and slider. He'll get the fastball up to 96-97 mph, with some tail to the inner half of the plate. His power slider comes in at 86-88 mph, and it's a nasty pitch. In the past, he's had serious command issues. He's certainly not impeccable, but he has been getting ahead of hitters more consistently and shown fringy average command overall. He also started throwing an 85-mph changeup. It lags behind the other two, but it could be Major League average, a usable pitch, for sure. Meyer was coming on strong at the right time, and if that offspeed pitch continues to develop, he has the chance to be a top-of-the-rotation-type starter, and that should have many teams, particularly those in the second half of the first round, taking a long look at him.Enhanced Scouting Report

24

Guerrieri, Taylor

Spring Valley HS (SC)

RHP

R/R

6'03"

195

1992-12-01

HS

Comments: Guerrieri entered the year as an interesting, if not outstanding, high school pitching prospect, but had decision-makers flocking to South Carolina as word spread about him lighting up the radar gun. The projectable right-hander has been up to 97 mph this spring, throwing his fastball anywhere in the 92-97 mph range. He's also got a plus curveball, a hard downer breaking pitch, thrown 83-84 mph. He hasn't had much use for a changeup in high school, but he has a feel for it, and it should be an average pitch in the future. He'll also mix in an 87-90 mph cutter, showing he's not just about arm strength. With average command and a great pitcher's body to go along with good arm action and delivery, Guerrieri has moved up to the upper echelons of a pretty good prep pitching class and could be one of the early ones to go off the board.Enhanced Scouting Report

25

Ross, Joe

Bishop O'Dowd School (CA)

RHP

R/R

6'03"

185

1993-05-21

HS

Comments: Tyson Ross' younger brother has a terrific pitcher's body and the chance to have big-time stuff to go along with it. The NoCal high school product has the potential to have two outstanding power pitches. He can get the fastball up to 95 mph, sitting comfortably in the 90-91 mph range most of the time. His fastball does have some sink and run to it as well, though he has a tendency to leave it up in the zone. He opens his front side up too quickly, giving hitters a better look at the heater and making it more hittable than it should be. He throws a power curve 78-81 mph, though he'll drop it a few ticks from time to time. It has good spin and depth and should be a plus pitch. He also throws a changeup, but like with many high school pitchers, it's still in its nascent stages. While he largely throws strikes, his overall command isn't as good. His overall ceiling may be as a guy in the middle of a rotation, but it may take some time for people to find out, as many feel he'll be tough to sign away from his UCLA commitment.Enhanced Scouting Report

26

Swihart, Blake

V Sue Cleveland HS (NM)

C

S/R

6'01"

175

1992-04-03

HS

Comments: On pure ability alone, Swihart very well could have first-round talent. That's particularly true of his bat. He's got a great swing from both sides of the plate and can really hit. He should hit for average with above-average power. Think a slightly better version of Colby Rasmus, a hitter who could hit .300 with 20+ homers annually. It's unclear where Swihart's eventual defensive home will be. A catcher in high school, some feel he won't stay there at the next level as he's not the biggest guy in the world, though he does have arm strength, and a team may not want the wear and tear of catching to take away from his offensive potential. A move to the infield seems unlikely as Swihart's lack of speed wouldn't suit him at, say, second base, so a corner outfield spot may make the most sense, and he should have enough bat for such a spot. He's expected to be a very tough sign, with a commitment to the University of Texas, so it might take a team willing to meet his asking price to get him to become a pro this summer.Enhanced Scouting Report

27

Stephenson, Robert

Alhambra HS (CA)

RHP

R/R

6'02"

190

1993-02-24

HS

Comments: While the college arms are getting the bulk of the attention in this year's class, there are a number of high-octane high schoolers generating first-round buzz, as well. Perhaps a half-step behind the elite prepsters is Stephenson, who has drawn some comparisons to Matt Garza. Stephenson has plenty of arm strength, with a fastball that has touched 97 mph. The NoCal product, who has a commitment to the University of Washington, also has shown a curve that is a plus at times, though it's been inconsistent. He has a changeup, but like with many high school pitchers, it's a little behind his other pitches. Stephenson is not just a thrower -- he throws strikes, by and large -- but his control is better than his command right now. But with a good pitcher's body and excellent makeup, he could be a good choice for someone picking in the bottom third of the first round.Enhanced Scouting Report

28

Gilmartin, Sean

Florida State

LHP

L/L

6'02"

195

1990-05-08

JR

29

Panik, Joe

St. Johns

SS

L/R

6'01"

193

1990-10-30

JR

30

Michael, Levi

North Carolina

SS

S/R

5'10"

1991-02-09

JR

Comments: Every Draft class has a crop of college middle infielders that is interesting, if not overwhelmingly exciting. Michael has improved over the past couple of years, moving himself to close to the top of this year's class of college hitters who play up the middle. He can hit from both sides of the plate and, though he is more of a gap-to-gap guy, has gotten stronger and shown a little more pop this season. When he's healthy, he's got above-average speed and will steal a base. An ankle injury has slowed him somewhat this season on both sides of the ball. Even before that, some scouts felt his range was too limited to be an everyday shortstop as a professional. His average arm is playable there but might be a bit short to profile there all the time. As a result, most see him as a second baseman -- his hands work just fine -- or as a utility type who can fill in at shortstop and not be a detriment. It may not sound like the most exciting combination of tools, but it should be enough to be gone in the first 60 picks.Enhanced Scouting Report